By Andrew Estrella, Western contributor
Alright, let’s skip the formalities—week four of the Western comp season is here, and we’re right in the thick of it. Hart Encore is a mid-season staple, and with Advanced Mixed I being uncontested, all eyes are on the bigger divisions for some real competition. At this point, early-season slip-ups should be ironed out, so solid performances should be hitting the stage.
Advanced Tier I Mixed & Treble
Not much to say here—Burroughs Powerhouse and Sound Sensations walk away with uncontested wins in their divisions. No surprises there.
Advanced Tier II Mixed
• Bonita Vista "The Music Machine"
• Diamond Bar "Marquis"
• Chaparral "Platinum FX"
• Glendora "Royal Stewarts"
Nothing like a mid-season Tier II showdown! With Platinum FX finally in a competitive division, things could shake up a bit. Heavyweights Diamond Bar Marquis and Glendora Royal Stewarts are back for a rematch—last year at Hart, Marquis took the win over Ro Stew. Can they pull it off again, or will Glendora flip the script?
Predictions:
1. Diamond Bar “Marquis” (Musicianship)
2. Glendora “Royal Stewarts” (Showmanship)
3. Chaparral “Platinum FX”
4. Bonita Vista “The Music Machine”
Intermediate Treble
• Diamond Bar "Solitaire"
• Oceanside "High Seas"
• Glendora "Silhouettes"
• John Burroughs "Decibelles"
• Saugus "Blue Heat"
This division is stacked—the second-largest at the competition. A big mix of groups means anything could happen, including noise from a Saugus group that moved up to intermediate this year.
Predictions:
1. John Burroughs “Decibelles” (Show & Music)
2. Diamond Bar “Solitaire”
3. Glendora “Silhouettes”
4. Oceanside “High Seas”
5. Saugus “Blue Heat”
Novice Mixed
• Los Altos "LA Dynamix"
• Shelley "Sentinels"
• Norco "New Generation"
• Western Sierra "The Alphas"
• Granada Hills "G-Notes"
• Eisenhower "Ike Singers"
• Valencia "Just 4 Show"
The biggest division of the comp means the biggest potential for surprises. This one’s a mix of established groups (Norco, Los Altos, Eisenhower, Granada Hills) and newer faces (Shelley, Western Sierra, Valencia).
Valencia is an especially interesting wildcard—they come from one of the top vocal jazz programs in the state. That background may translate well to show choir. And then there’s Shelley, making the long trip from Idaho - see more below.
Predictions:
1. Eisenhower “Ike Singers” (Showmanship)
2. Valencia “Just 4 Show” (Musicianship)
3. Los Altos “La Dynamix”
4. Granada Hills “G-Notes”
5. Norco “New Generation”
6. Shelley “Sentinels”
7. Western Sierra “The Alphas”
Group Spotlight: Shelley High School “Sentinels”
New state, new competition—we love to see it! Shelley High School from tiny Shelley, Idaho (population just over 5,000) is making its competitive debut, and everyone is hyped to see what they bring. But on a serious note… why aren’t they called “The Potatones” or “Spud Singers”? Huge missed opportunity. All jokes aside, it’s awesome to see another state jump into the scene, and it will be exciting to watch them perform. Best of luck to them!
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